Mobile school tax supporters nervous about Alabama state House election (Talbot column)

View full size(Press-Register/G.M. Andrews)The House District 105 election has some supporters of renewing property taxes considered critical to the Mobile County Public School System nervous. Belinda Bates works with first-graders Camden Rogers, Kayleigh Bosarge and Anna Marie Gazzier in her classroom at Anna Booth Elementary School on Monday, Sept. 20, 2010 in Irvington, Ala. (Press-Register/G.M. Andrews)

MOBILE, Alabama -- A low-profile race in south Mobile County could have a big-time impact on the county’s March 22 school tax renewal vote.

The school vote will coincide with the primary election for state House District 105, which was set by Gov. Robert Bentley for March 22.

Supporters of the tax renewal are worried that the House race will draw out “no” voters in droves. The reason? The district, which stretches along the coast from the Mississippi state line to Mobile Bay, includes some of the county’s most conservative precincts.

That’s exactly what happened in 2001, the last time county voters were asked to approve a school tax.

The 2001 initiative — a combination of sales and property taxes — prevailed countywide, aided by heavy “yes” votes in the cities of Mobile and Prichard. But 58 percent of voters within District 105 opposed the measure, according to an analysis by education reporter Rena Havner Phillips.

With low voter turnout expected county-wide, school supporters are nervous.

“It’s a concern,” said Mobile County school board member Judy Stout.

The stakes are high for the school system. The taxes — one dating back to 1915 and two others to the 1940s — are worth $55 million to Mobile County public schools and $1.1 million to Saraland city schools. Failure would mean the loss of as many as 400 teachers.

Stout and campaign supporters are emphasizing that they’re not asking for any new taxes, just the renewal of existing taxes on property. There’s no organized opposition so far, but taxes are anathema to Alabama voters — particularly in a down economy.

The group is tearing a page from the playbook that Baldwin County school officials used to win approval of a school tax last year. That campaign smartly targeted parents and teachers, avoiding attention from anti-tax voters.

A quick, precise campaign is planned in Mobile, but that strategy could get disrupted by a contentious race in District 105.

The district, which includes economically distressed Bayou La Batre and Coden, was vacated when state Rep. Spencer Collier accepted a position in Bentley’s cabinet as head of the Alabama Department of Homeland Security.

The four candidates who have qualified for the seat are all running as Republicans, meaning a May 10 runoff is likely. In a twist, the school tax vote could play heavily in the contest.

One of the candidates, Bill Meredith, is a former school board member who could benefit from a strong turnout by teachers and school employees.

Meredith’s experience in elected office and solid name recognition make him the early favorite, but his three opponents — Mike Burdine of Theodore, Scott Buzbee of Irvington and David Sessions of Grand Bay — each showed potential during a well-attended candidate forum in Tillman’s Corner on Monday night.

All four said in interviews that they intend to vote for the tax renewal — news that will come as a relief to school tax supporters. But don’t expect any of them to relax until March 23.

“This is critical not just for the betterment of our children, but for the recruitment of new industry and jobs,” Stout said. “Failure is not an option.”